THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, DEC. 25, 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 25 December 1862, Page 3

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, DEC. 25, 1862.

Provincial polities are still thrown into the shade by the much greater preponderance of the all-absorbing question of native matters. Within twelve days of the issue of this day's journal, the electors of Napier will have to perform the important duty of electing five “good and true men''to represent their interests and wishes in the Provincial Council, and the same duty will devolve on brother electors of the outlying portions of the Province in regard to other live in periods varying from nine in the Count rtf Dis-

trict to twenty-two days in that ■*( Wainiurama ; and yet, so far as we can learn, little or nothing is being done towards the attainment of this object. Are the electors totallv oblivious to the importance of the duty they are called upon to fulfil ? Have they already laid no experience in the evil consequences that may result in the event of an unwise or careless choice ? Has the early history of the Province taught them no lesson on the subject of mis-government—the legitimate consequences of mistakes”or' carelessness made or manifested at the poll ? True, there are not now so many manifesting their anxiety for the honors of the ofiice—there is not the same temptation now to secure a seat that there has been in times gone by—the state of the Province at present and its prospects for the immediate future are not quite so flattering as they have been. Our legislators will of necessity have to try their hands at the much less pleasant work of retrenchment and economy—very much less pleasant than was the extravagance and waste of the former Council, and this is perhaps reason sufficient for the dearth of candidates in the held. Put it there is little or no temptation offered to such as are ambitious of the honor of sporting with the means and the future of the Province, there is a nobio opportunity offered for such as have its true interests at heart, and it is such as these that it behoves ns to seek and elect. Such are not often found thrusting themselves prominently forward, sounding the trumpet of their own praise, blazoning their patriotism and anxiety to sacrifice themselves on the altar of public service; but we doubt not that such are known by many of the constituency, albeit they may he found in the walks of humble tile, whose fitness for the office consists not tn wealth nor station, but in integrity of character mid purpose ; their order is the aristocracy of the mind, —the peerage of the intellect and rectitude of conduct the standard of then- aim. Amongst such as these there are doubtless to he found those who are well acquainted with the evils this province lias already sufterod from the mis-government of its eariy rulers, and the best remedies to be applied for these evils, as also of the most pressing needs of the Province at the present lime, i.ijt sucii as tnese he sought out, and ii —-'■■■• ha;, a ■'dal worsidpoers ~.f '■■■■' A‘ i.ia ga •. f w; add an .1 Staid:.!, mid we may once again look idr a future «s bright as seemed heiuro us at the beginning of our Provincial history. “ There is a title in the affairs of men"— this is no ’less true of communities than of inuividiials; hut though we acknowledge this in ail flic three of its application to our own Provincial matters, we are not of that class that venial advocate the waiting for high water before commencing action. We bet:eve that, generally speaking, now is the tunc for work, and those who wait for the occurrence of more favorable moments generally lose the advantages offered by the present. \\ o- believe that this is particularly the truth in respect to our Provincial affairs. The remedy ought indeed to have been applied long ago, hut as each moment lost only adds to the existing difficulties of our position, the opportunity offered by the approaching elections should be cordially erabraced, as a means of ensuring the necessary reforms in our Provincial Government.